After a year-long legal battle, K-pop group NewJeans (뉴진스) lost their case against their label ADOR to terminate their exclusive contracts. While the five members have iterated plans to appeal the verdict, netizens think that’s a bad choice because of a new report.
On 30th October 2025 (Thursday), the Seoul Central District Court gave the ruling on the NewJeans-ADOR case, declaring the group’s exclusive contract with the agency to be valid. The court also shut down claims that ADOR breached the contract by dismissing Min Heejin from her CEO position. ADOR would later release a statement, saying they’re prepared to resume NewJeans’ activities, including releasing a new album.
However, the members of NewJeans plan to appeal the verdict. The quintet, which rebranded to NJZ (엔제이지) in February 2025, said that their relationship of trust with the company has completely collapsed, making it impossible for them to return to ADOR and continue their group activities. While many fans supported this move, some netizens noted that it might not be the best decision, given how it could force another gap in their career.
Following the court’s verdict, MBN News reported that NewJeans won’t be able to pursue independent activities for the next several years. According to the news outlet, the members won’t be able to leave the agency until 2029, taking into account their initial contract period and the time they were inactive due to the court case. The period could allegedly extend if the group continues their legal battle with ADOR.
The report sparked concern among fans and netizens, fearing for the group’s future. While many supported NewJeans’ independence from ADOR, some argued that prolonging the court case could be detrimental to their careers, given that the group missed many opportunities in the past year. Some also said it’s wiser for the idols to continue working with the agency so they won’t lose their popularity.
There’s no telling what the group and the agency would do from now on. Nevertheless, we wish the best for NewJeans and ADOR. What are your thoughts on this? Watch MBN News’ report below:
